Gary Forsee's first staff decision as president of the University of Missouri system is a winner.
He asked Gordon Lamb, who's been serving as interim president, to stay on for at least a year as executive vice president. Lamb will serve as an adviser to Forsee and work on special projects.
Lamb, 72, has done much more than keep the seat warm while the Board of Curators conducted its excrutiatingly long search to replace Elson Floyd.
He traveled around the state forging alliances with other university leaders.
He formed the "University of Missouri 100," a group of high-powered boosters. Forsee was co-chair.
He dreamed up the "Preparing to Care" initiative, which seeks additional state funding to expand health care programs on the four campuses.
And he made a bold public statement in support of embryonic stem cell research. Researchers in Missouri must have "protection from the few who, seeking to reinforce their own personal biases, would shut down research done by highly competent and dedicated scientists," Lamb said.
Lamb also did a fine job when he was interim chancellor at UMKC in 1999 and 2000. He is a class act who understands academia through and through. He will be an invaluable resource for Forsee.
Barb Shelly, editorial board
!